Current-motor or water-wheel.



PATENTED NOV. 8, 1904.

J. S. MATHEWS.

CURRENT MOTOR OR WATER WHEEL.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 18, 1904.

H0 MODEL.

ethane/x18 UNITED STATES Patented November 8, 1904.

. PATENT Orrrcn.

JOHN SMITH MATHEWS, OF PENDLETON, OREGON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- FOURTH TO W. O. MINNIS, OF PENDLETON, OREGON.

CURRENT-MOTOR OR WATER-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 774,592, dated November 8, 1904.

Application filed May 16, 1904:- Serial No. 208,282. (No model.)

To all 2077 0712, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN SMITH TVIATHEWS, of Pendleton, in the county of Umatilla and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Current-Motors or lVater-Vheels; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification. i

This invention is an improvement, in waterwheels or current-motors; and its object is to provide a simple and efficient feathering-blade water wheel or motor which can be operated either in a vertical or horizontal position and either wholly or partly submerged, being particularly adapted for generating power for use in irrigating plants, as local power apparatus on farms, and for general powerpurposes.

The invention consists in the novel construction of the wheel, as hereinafter described and particularly claimed and as illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 is a top view of the wheel, showing it arrangedto operate in a vertical position. Fig. 2 is a view showing the wheel arranged to operate in a horizontal position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of one of the blade-lock hinges.

The wheel comprises a drum A, which may be a regular circle in circumference, but is preferably polygonal, as shown. This drum may be constructed of metal, wood, or any suitable materials and is preferably watertight, particularly when the wheel is to be used in a horizontal position. It is fixedly attached to an axial shaft B, which is journaled in suitable hearings in beams O C, projecting from suitable supports, and a jetty or deflect-or D is attached to and between beams C C at the return side of the wheel, which will assist in directing the water against the buckets, wings E, or blades on the power side of the wheel and will facilitate the closing of the blades at the return side of the wheel.

Around the periphery of the drum is ardrum is polygonal I preferably provide a blade for and of sufficient size to cover each facet of the drum. These blades preferably have flanges e on their ends, which flanges may form part of the hinges F of the blades.

The hinge members F are pivoted at f to the ends of hinge lugs or arms Gr, rigidlyfastened to the ends of the drum and projecting slightly beyond the periphery thereof, so that the pivots f are at the periphery of the drum. The hinges F project inwardly beyond the pivots f,these projecting portions forming stop-arms F, which are adapted-to move under the fixed hinge arms G as the blades swing outward until they strike the base portionG of the fixed hinge-arms, as indicated in the drawings, when they arrest the further outward swinging of the blades and cause the latter to transmit the full force of the current to the drum to rotate the latter. The fixed arms G, it will be observed, form the supporting members of the hinge. They also form stop members of the hinge, and they also form guards to protect the arms F as they swing thereunder. The flanges e aid in keeping the water current directly against the blade and give the blades a kind of dish or concave form, which is enlarged by turning the outer edge of the blades slightly inward, as indicated at e of the drawings.

When the complete wheel is placed in the water, the force of the current at one side of the wheel will swing the blades open and cause the drum to rotate in the direction of the current, while the blades at the opposite blade-hinges are located some distance from their pivots, there is less strain on the hinges and less liability of the parts becoming disarranged-or damaged by wear than would occur if the lock were at the pivot.

A light spring-band J may encircle the wheel, this band having one end attached to the jetty and then passing loosely around the l wheel back to its point of attachment to the i etty, where it is or may be connected to a rope or chain passed under or over a guidei of longitudinally disposed blades, locking hinge-arms attached to the ends of said blades, fixed guard hinge-arms attached to the ends of the drum and projecting slightly beyond roller and back to a Windlass-drum, which i the periphery thereof, and pivoted to the lock 7 can be operated by lever K or other suitable l hinge-arms, said lock hinge-arms projecting device. hen the band is loose, it will not inwardly beyond the pivots and adapted to interfere with the opening of the blades on engage the inner ends of the guard hingethe power side of the wheel nor the free acarms, to lock the blade in open position, and

10 tion of the wheel; but if the band is tightened l a jetty beside the drum adapt-ed to deflect the 75 it will hold the blades closely to the periphl water toward the drive side of drum, and to ery of the drum, and thus throw the wheel close the blades, all substantially as and for out of operation. the purpose described.

hen the wheel is in a vertical position, as 3. In a water-wheel, the combination of a 5 in Fig. 1, the operative blades are nearest the hollow polygonal-sided air-tight drum, an 80 center of current, where it is most powerful, axial shaft therefor, a series of longitudinallywhile the inactive blades are in the more disposed blades,one for eachfacet of the drum, sluggish part of the current, and the jetty inhaving inwardly-bent flanges on their ends,

sures their closing as they pass toward the locking hinge-arms attached to the ends of current side of the wheel. If the wheel is to said blades, fixed guard hinge-arms attached 5 be submerged, its ends may be open; but when to the ends of the drum and projecting slightly it is to be only partly submerged, and parbeyond the periphery thereof, and pivoted to ticularly if used in a horizontal partly-subthelock hinge-arms, said lock hinge-arms promerged position, I prefer to have it air-tight, jecting inwardly beyond the pivots and adaptand in such case it will operate as a floating ed to engage the inner ends of the guard 9 motor if properly proportioned, the lower hinge-arms, to lock the blade in open position, blades being the rotative means, while the and a jetty beside the drum adapted to deflect upper blades will close by gravity as they the water from the return side of drum, and emerge from the water, and the drum owing to close the blades, all substantially as and for 3 to its bouyancy will support the wheel on the purpose described. 95 working position. In cases where the wheel 4:. The combination with the rotary drum, is used in horizontal position the deflector D and the blades pivoted thereto; with a bladeshould be arranged above the axis of the drum closing device encircling the drum and blades and on the upstream or upcurrent side of thereon, and having its ends attached to nonthe wheel, and when the wheel is used in a rotatable points, and means for taking up and 100 vertical position the jetty or deflector should relaxing the said device, whereby when the also be arranged on the upstream shore side device is relaxed the blades can open, and of the wheel. when tightened the blades are closed against Power can be transmitted from the shaft the drum, substantially as described.

4 of the drum by means of any suitable con- 5. In combination with the hollow drum,its 5 nections or gearing to the desired point of shaft and bearings; a series of longitudinal utilization; but as this transmission means blades hinged to the periphery of the drum, does not form any feature of the present inand means for arresting the swinging movevention it is not shown herein. ment of the blades when fully opened; of a Having thus described my invention, what non-rotatable bandloosely encircling the drum I10 I therefore claim as new, and desire to secure and blades thereon and adapted,when relaxed, by Letters Patent thereon, is to allow the proper opening of the blades, and

1. In a water-wheel, the combination of a when tautened to close and hold the blades hollow drum, an axial shaft therefor, a series against the drum, and means for taking up or of longitudinally-disposed blades having inslacking of the band, substantially as and for 5 wardlybent flanges on their ends, locking the purpose described. hinge-arms rigidly attached to the ends of 6. In a water-motor wheel, the combination said blades and projecting over the ends of of adrum, an axial shaftattached to said drum, the drum, fixed hinge-arms attached to the a series of hinge-arms fixedly attached to the ends of the drum and projecting slightly beends of the drum; a series of swinging blades 120 yond the periphery thereof, said lock hingeextending longitudinally of the drum, said arms being pivoted to the fixed hinge-arms blades having their outer ends bent inwardly and projecting inwardly beyond the pivots and their ends flanged, and extended to form and stops on the ends of the drum adapted to lock hinge-arms on the ends of said blades be engaged by the inner free ends of the locksaid arms being pivoted to the outer ends of 5 ing hinge-arms to lock the blades in open pothe fixed hinge-arms, said lock hinge-arms exsition, all substantially as and for the purpose tending inwardly beyond the pivots and adaptdescribed. ed to stop the swinging of the blades when 2. In a water-wheel, the combination of a fully open, substantially as and for the pur- 6 5 hollow drum, an axial shaft therefor, a series l pose described. 3

7. In a Water-motor Wheel, the combination of a hollow air-drum, polygonal in cross-sec-v tion, an axial shaft attached to said druin, a jetty beside the drum, a series of hinge-arms fixedly attached to the ends of the drum; a series of swinging blades or Wings, one for each facet of the drum, extending longitudinally thereof, said blades having their outer ends bent inwardly and their ends flanged, and lock hinge-arms attached to the ends of said blades, and pivoted to the outer ends of the fixed hinge-arms, said lock hinge-arms extending inwardly beyond the pivots and adapted to engage the inner ends of the fixed hingearms, When the blades are full opened, all sub- 5 stantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN SMITH MATHEWS.

Witnesses:

W. G. MINNIS, DAN P. SMYTHE. 

